Astra Missile | 18 Sep 2019

Recently, ASTRA the first indigenously developed air-to-air missile was successfully flight-tested off the coast of Odisha.

• The missile was launched from Sukhoi-30 MKI.
• The Astra missile is developed by Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO).
• It works on the Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) technology that enables the fighter-pilots to shoot precisely at the enemy targets which are beyond their visual range.
• The specifications of the missile are:
  
  • Speed: over 5,555 km per hour or 4.5 mach
  • Range: over 70 km,
  • Payload/warhead capacity: 15 kg.
  • Features:
    
    • Electronic Counter-Countermeasures or ECCM feature enables Astra missile to overcome defensive measures put forth for the target by the enemy.
    • Another deadly feature of this missile is the option to choose between “Lock-on Before Launch – LOBL” and “Lock-on After Launch – LOAL”
      
      • Lock-on After Launch option allows the fighter aircraft to safely shoot and scoot after launching the missile towards the target.
• Astra is extremely effective in a multi-target scenario and therefore, has been described as the most potent weapon system for IAF’s combat aircraft.

Source: PIB